Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations (NELC)

Egyptology - program requirements

NELC’s graduate program in Egyptology offers advanced study of the languages
and civilizations of ancient Egypt. In general, the student is to follow
the MA general procedures or the PhD
general procedures of the department, but the following statements
outline the regulations specific to the PhD program in Egyptology.

II. Description of the Program in EgyptologyA) Language and Literature Concentration
1) Primary Field:
a) Ancient Egyptian language and literature: for the PhD, the student
must acquire a detailed knowledge and proficiency in all phases of ancient
Egyptian: Old, Middle, and Late Egyptian, as well as Demotic and Coptic.
All genres of texts and all types of writing are to be learned. Each student
is to acquire a thorough understanding of the grammar of each period and
diachronic relationships.
b) History, culture, art, and archaeology of ancient Egypt: courses chosen
should provide the student with a detailed knowledge of Egyptian history
from Pre-historic until Graeco-Roman times. Familiarity with the basic
trends in the history of Egyptian art and archaeology is to be acquired
along with knowledge of the chief groups of artifacts and their chronological
and cultural significance. A thorough understanding of Egyptian religion,
political organizations, social structure, and technology must be obtained.
The student must acquire the ability to relate archaeological, cultural,
and textual evidence.

2) Secondary Field:
a) Language of chosen secondary field of concentration: The student must
obtain a working knowledge of another language of the ancient Near East
or Greece: Akkadian, Sumerian, Hittite, Biblical Hebrew or Greek. With
appropriate permission of the Advisers, Arabic may in specific occasions
be substituted.
b) History, culture, art, and archaeology: It is necessary to obtain knowledge
of the major aspects of the history and culture of the secondary field
of concentration in which the language was chosen. These include: Mesopotamia,
Syria-Palestine, Turkey, or Greece, and, in addition, a basic knowledge
of the history of the ancient Near East.

B) Archaeology Concentration
1) Primary Field:
a) Language of ancient Egypt: The student must obtain a comprehensive
knowledge of Middle Egyptian texts and grammar and have familiarity with
texts and grammar of Old and Late Egyptian.
b) Archaeology, art, history, and culture of ancient Egypt: The student
must obtain a detailed knowledge of the main styles and development of
Egyptian art and architecture, and of their cultural functions; detailed
knowledge of the chief groups of artifacts and of their chronological
and cultural significance; and thorough familiarity with archaeological
techniques in general and of those relevant to Egypt in particular. A
comprehensive understanding of religion, political organizations, social
structure, and technology of ancient Egypt is also essential. The student
must be able to integrate cultural, archaeological and textual evidence.
c) History of ancient Egypt: The student is to acquire a detailed knowledge
of all phases of ancient Egyptian history, from prehistoric through Graeco-Roman
times.

2) Secondary Field:
a) Art, Archaeology, history, culture, and anthropology: Students will
be required to demonstrate thorough knowledge of these aspects of the
chosen secondary area of concentration as well as a basic general knowledge
of the history of the ancient Near East.
b) Archaeological interpretation and techniques: The students must become
familiar with basic archaeological field techniques and the methods used
to interpret archaeological evidence.

C) Secondary Field in Egyptology
Graduate students in other programs (such as Mesopotamian Civilizations
or Biblical Studies) who take a secondary field in Egyptology must take
at least four courses in Egyptian language (Middle Egyptian and another
significant phase) and two in history and culture.